Blast From The Past: Examining How Justice League Plays On Our Nostalgia

The Superman Music

Justice League has an easier time paying homage to the classic Batman movies, but its soundtrack still has some effective nods to the classic Superman themes. You’ll notice it most prominently in the resurrection scene, when Elfman twists the theme in an interesting way. As he explained:

“I… had two minutes where I had the pleasure of saying, “Let’s do John Williams’ Superman.” and that for me was heaven, because now I have a melody to twist, and I’m using it in an actually very dark way, in a dark moment. It’s the kind of thing that some fans will notice. Some won’t. It’s a moment where we’re really not sure whose side he’s on.”

The result is subtle but striking. It’s also not the only homage to Williams’ Superman in the film.

Amusing Nods To The Classic Superman Films

Amusingly enough, DC chose to make several subtle decisions to pay homage to the classic Superman pics. The movie exploits this mythology in surprisingly subtle ways, such as Barry Allen’s jacket. Another amusing nod is a cameo from Marc McClure, who played Jimmy Olsen in the Superman movies. This time round, he plays the guard at the prison Barry Allen visits.

As you can see, this is a pic that understands – more than any other DCEU movie to date – that it’s just the latest film in an ongoing narrative. The big screen story of DC’s superheroes began in 1978, and Justice League is keen to acknowledge that rich history. Amusingly enough, were it not for Suicide Squad‘s version of the Joker, the details are accurate enough that you’d almost think this film was set in the same world as Batman ’89.